Bioclimatic and sustainable features on vernacular architecture in Ternate

This study aims to identify the response of the vernacular building to climate and sustainability by literature study and field observations. The results show that the vernacular building in Ternate Island develops based on the characteristics of the region. The typology of building differs in each tribe following the natural condition and local culture, it has a line of equality in the building philosophy as an embodiment of the human body: feet (foundation), body (wall and room), and head (roof). Vernacular architecture in Ternate contains bioclimatic and sustainable features and can be developed to the new building concept; the basic concept is the combination of spiritual/cultural harmony, human harmony, environmental harmony, and harmony with green technology/innovation for comfort and protection of the disasters by bioclimatic architecture design strategy. This study provides insight and inspiration for sustainability in the future especially in the context of archipelago areas.

How to Reveal the Meaning of Space in Vernacular Architecture?

Vernacular architecture is a modest style of building used to maintain the balance of human relations with nature. This architectural style is specific to a region and passed down from one generation to another to embody cultural values. However, its development is currently facing globalization and modernization challenges, thereby leading to a gradual shift of this ancestral heritage to modern buildings. Change is unavoidable due to continuous evolution, however, the meaning inherent architecture buildings need to be maintained because it contains the cultural and social values of the associated local community. Furthermore, vernacular building space is a place for social activities and contains historical meaning applicable to modern buildings. Its functionality responds to changes and the needs of times while maintaining the local essence. Therefore, this research aims to determine the suitable method needed to reveal the meaning of vernacular architectural space. Data were collected from the conscious mind of space users through in-depth interviews by applying epoche, which were further reduced, categorized, and integrated to determine its meaning. The data collected through a literature review were analyzed using the content analysis method. The results showed that transcendental phenomenology is the right method to determine the meaning of vernacular architectural space. Based on the results, it is concluded that the meaning passed down from one generation to another could be expressed through the conscious experience of space users. Furthermore, transcendental phenomenology helped reveal the meaning without the intervention of the author’s knowledge, therefore it is unbiased and applicable in modern buildings.

Innovative Evaluation Techniques for Hanok Sustainability Based on Integrative Comfort Indices

This study aims to present integrative evaluation techniques that can assess spatial comfort reflecting the unique value of a vernacular building type in Korea called Hanok. For this purpose, current evaluation indices and methods of official standards for normal building performance were analyzed through previous studies, since any certified tools for Hanok evaluation do not exist. This situation has made relevant markets to be deactivated, although Hanok has valuable meanings as the traditional architecture to be succeeded to the next generation in Korea. Accordingly, specific assessment indices were derived to evaluate the Hanok sustainability especially focused on spatial comfort by using a qualitative field surveys with combined quantitative references. Then, actual resident data were collected from a series of Hanok testbeds for specific time-points including summer and winter solstices on the lunar-year system. As a result, resident data could be employed to reveal the characteristics of comfort performance from those target specimens, and show the tendency of the Hanok comfort by suggested innovative criteria for the market as a clue for its commercial potentials. Accordingly, it was concluded that the proposed techniques and indices could be certified for the Hanok evaluation and applied to the field of associated industries to show its specific values and advantages.

Significance of Traditional Materials and Their Substitution with Newly Available Materials

This article focuses on the region of Central Timor, settled by the Atoni Meto people, who live in round houses built on the ground. There seem to have developed local peculiarities in vernacular architecture, which require the use of wooden materials of different size, shape and state of processing. Changes in local vernacular architecture were also induced by the recent availability of modern materials such as bricks, concrete and corrugated iron. The aim of this article is to explore how such building materials are used and whether they are/ can be integrated into local vernacular building traditions. Fieldwork conatining architectural survey was conducted in Timor in May 2004 in Maubesi, and in June 2011 near Soe and Nikiniki (villages None, Supul and Boti) and Kefamenanu (among others the villages of Fafenesu, Maslete and Tamkessi). Some of the materials seem to have a strong effect on the layout or design of the buildings, whereas in other cases, such effects are far more subtle. In some cases, the new materials are used to imitate the more traditional ones, with astonishing results, and often incorporating structural details from the older technology and traditional materials which are copied. New materials already influence the building due to their different, new properties, and designs are devised to adapt to these changes, which in the end result in an altered building. In other cases, there is no compatibility at all, and old forms and designs are abandoned in favour of a new concept supported by new materials

Characteristics of Vernacular Architecture Malay Deli Traditional House Based on Technical Aspects of Building Structure

Local wisdom in an architectural context is part of cultural heritage, passed down from generation to the next generation and gone through a long process of gaining community recognition as a reflection of the region's culture, also known as vernacular architecture. Vernacular architecture can be found in almost every region, as is the city of Medan. Medan city is famous for its culture, especially its Malay culture, formed by the Sultan of Deli's influence so that Malay Deli emerged. In its formation, aspects of the creation of vernacular architecture also influenced the development of Malay Deli, mainly traditional houses. These traditional houses is visible from one of its forming aspects in the form of technical aspects such as building structure systems. This study discusses the characteristic of system structure in the Malay Deli traditional house and aims to identify and examine these problems. This study adopted a qualitative descriptive method approach to collect and analyze data so that the results obtained in the form of technical aspects of the structure of vernacular building structures from traditional Malay. This study's findings are a reference source for traditional Malay houses' vernacular architecture, specifically Malay deli or design considerations.

Chrysalis: A Metamorphosis of African Vernacular Architecture Traditionally Inspired Strategies for Community Building

Contemporary architecture in Africa is increasingly dominated by building methods and styles transplanted from the industrialized West, undermining the continuity of African vernacular architecture. Often poorly grafted to local site conditions, these transplanted building models frequently struggle to support community identities. This thesis argues that this is largely due to inappropriately designed shared spaces and through construction methods that disregard the collective agency of users. In response, this thesis employs ‘Chrysalis’: a perceptual lens for reinterpreting vernacular building strategies to demonstrate how collectively built shared spaces can better foster communal cultural expression in contemporary African architecture. This thesis argues that culturally embedded communal space can advance collective identity, promote safety, and encourage social interaction. It also explores how user-participatory construction methods can empower communities by cultivating self-reliance. Transformed though ‘Chrysalis’, a rich history of building traditions is reimagined in the design of a cultural center for a Kenyan Maasai community.

Chrysalis: A Metamorphosis of African Vernacular Architecture Traditionally Inspired Strategies for Community Building

Contemporary architecture in Africa is increasingly dominated by building methods and styles transplanted from the industrialized West, undermining the continuity of African vernacular architecture. Often poorly grafted to local site conditions, these transplanted building models frequently struggle to support community identities. This thesis argues that this is largely due to inappropriately designed shared spaces and through construction methods that disregard the collective agency of users. In response, this thesis employs ‘Chrysalis’: a perceptual lens for reinterpreting vernacular building strategies to demonstrate how collectively built shared spaces can better foster communal cultural expression in contemporary African architecture. This thesis argues that culturally embedded communal space can advance collective identity, promote safety, and encourage social interaction. It also explores how user-participatory construction methods can empower communities by cultivating self-reliance. Transformed though ‘Chrysalis’, a rich history of building traditions is reimagined in the design of a cultural center for a Kenyan Maasai community.